Feeding Littles and Beyond

Book excerpt: An inspirational, accessible family cookbook that offers everything a parent needs to bring joy and love back into the kitchen, by the baby and toddler feeding experts behind Feeding Littles and the New York Times bestselling cookbook author of Inspiralized. When it was time to introduce solids to her firstborn, Ali Maffucci didn’t want to make baby food from scratch or buy expensive premade purées. Enter baby-led weaning (or baby-led feeding)—and Megan McNamee and Judy Delaware, the dietitian/occupational therapist duo behind preeminent parenting resource Feeding Littles—which skips spoon-feeding altogether so babies can eat what the family eats. As babies feed themselves, they explore a variety of aromas, shapes, and colors while developing fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, dexterity, and healthy eating habits. McNamee and Delaware also help their clients navigate—or prevent—picky eating at all ages and raise a generation of intuitive eaters who listen to their bodies and love a variety of food. Now, these powerhouse authors unite to provide a plan that will reduce stress and anxiety around mealtimes, nourish your loved ones, and satisfy everyone’s palate with fun, easy, nutritious recipes. Maffucci, Delaware, and McNamee offer: strategies for baby-led weaning/feeding, as well as safety and other common parental concerns how to meal-prep in a way that works for your schedule tips for dealing with challenges such as picky eaters and dining out a one-of-a-kind visual index for plating food that babies can feed to themselves 100+ delicious recipes in categories including Morning Fuel (with plenty of egg-free options), Less Is More (using five ingredients or less), and Mostly Homemade (no shame in using pantry staples!) modifications for families with allergies positive food language and how to promote body positivity and much more With this book in hand, mealtimes will be easier and more enjoyable for everyone—from your six-month-old, to your picky toddler, to the other kids and adults in the family. As parents, the authors know that getting food on the table is hard enough, so whether you’re making a five-minute grilled cheese or pumpkin waffles, it’s time to start celebrating every bite.